Post by "Pop" Stran on Jan 11, 2005 1:00:24 GMT -5
A recent development, search-hooks are popping up in 2 basic forms...and neither is very far from being an outright scam.
One way that hooks are delivered is through malware downloads.
Malicious software (malware) includes spyware,adware, and viruses that are dropped into your system without your direct knowledge.
A search-hook script, as part of the downloaded package, can change your start-page settings and the default searchengine in your browser's settings...and that's just the start in most cases.
Another way that search hooks are being employed is thru page and ad scripting.
A good example has been showing up in the Google boxes at the top of these boards, in the ads for Ebay.
Whatever the current topic of the page, and ad stating that "Ebay has plenty of XXX for sale!" will show up...Today, there was a Google ad-box with 2 ads that claimed, " SCAM ARTISTS: Get the best price on Scam Artists at Ebay".
Many websites are using hook-scripts to stay at the top of the searchengine listings, regardless of the search terms or their site's actual content.
One such scammer is the Online Casino Advice site...Search Google for any term at all, and they'll show up...The content is just a results list from their internal search script...but the scam is working for now.
One way that hooks are delivered is through malware downloads.
Malicious software (malware) includes spyware,adware, and viruses that are dropped into your system without your direct knowledge.
A search-hook script, as part of the downloaded package, can change your start-page settings and the default searchengine in your browser's settings...and that's just the start in most cases.
Another way that search hooks are being employed is thru page and ad scripting.
A good example has been showing up in the Google boxes at the top of these boards, in the ads for Ebay.
Whatever the current topic of the page, and ad stating that "Ebay has plenty of XXX for sale!" will show up...Today, there was a Google ad-box with 2 ads that claimed, " SCAM ARTISTS: Get the best price on Scam Artists at Ebay".
Many websites are using hook-scripts to stay at the top of the searchengine listings, regardless of the search terms or their site's actual content.
One such scammer is the Online Casino Advice site...Search Google for any term at all, and they'll show up...The content is just a results list from their internal search script...but the scam is working for now.